Bendigo farmers' GM concerns

A Bendigo meeting to discuss concerns over genetically modified crop trials was attended by 20 conventional and organic farmers on Thursday April 11.

The farmers met to protest what they claim is a threat to their economic livelihoods, with fears of financial losses should cross contamination with genetically modified organisms occur.

While the organisers, Bendigo GE Free Working Party, refused to speak to Australian Biotechnology News claiming they would be labelled luddites, director of anti-GMO lobby group GeneEthics Bob Phelps said the farmers were afraid of being steamrolled by the technology.

"The main thing is their livelihoods," Phelps said.

"They are concerned about getting contaminated and losing their livelihoods and they are worried that once this comes in it will steamroll everyone in its path."

He said the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OTGR) was concerned only with health and safety issues, but had no jurisdiction over commercial concerns.

A spokeswoman for the OGTR was quoted in the media this week as conceding there were no guarantees GM seeds would not drift into farms neighbouring trial sites.

"I can't say there wouldn't be some drift, but that's a commercial consideration and the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator is only concerned with health and safety considerations," Kay McNiece told the Weekly Times.

Phelps said farmers felt they were isolated, disempowered and lacking a voice.

"When GE crops arrive what protection will (farmers) have?" he asked.

"Their only recourse will be to go to the courts, and when you're dealing with companies like Monsanto and Aventis, farmers just can't get their heads around that sort of thing."

It is understood no scientists or GM specialists spoke at last night's meeting. Issuing a statement on the back of the Bendigo meeting, Life Sciences Network chairman Dr William Rolleston(OK) called on activists to "seek out factual, responsible and credible information sources to raise the level of understanding and acceptance in regional communities rather than spreading false and misleading information about the introduction of GM crops in regional Victoria".

"Biotechnology and genetic modification have the potential to improve the lives of Victorians through new medical treatments and disease prevention measures, safer and more nutritious food, reductions in the use of agricultural chemicals, more sustainable land use practices and cleaning up the environment," Rolleston said.

"Farmers must have the right to exercise a choice, and attempts by anti-GM activists in regional Victoria to persuade farmers to ignore the benefits agricultural biotechnology can deliver to their businesses and the environment limit farmer choice."

The farmers' concerns come just days after the Gene Technology Regulator Dr Sue Meek announced her decision to issue three licenses for field trials of genetically modified cotton.

The cotton has been modified to be resistance to pests and tolerant to herbicides.

According to the OGTR web site, there are currently 38 intentional release trial sites across Australia covering such crops as sugarcane, apples, canola, cotton, mustard, grapevines and papaya.